Slow Cooker Lasagna

2 lbs bulk Italian sausage
2 tsp dried basil
2 tsp oregano
1 can (26oz) four cheese spaghetti sauce
2 150z cans tomato sauce
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes w/ basil, oregano, and parsley
2 tsp parsley
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 30 oz container part skim ricotta cheese
2 cups grated Parmesan/Romano cheese
1 box uncooked lasagna noodles

cook sausage in a 10 inch skillet over medium heat 6 to 10 min, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink, drain. stir spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. basil, oregano,parsley.

mix 2 cup of mozzarella cheese, and the the ricotta and Parmesan cheeses, (refrigerate remaining mozzarella cheese while lasagna cooks.)

Spoon one-fourth of the sausage mixture into 6 quart slow top with 5 noodles, broken into pieces to fit. Spread with half of the cheeses mixture and one-fourth of the sausage mixture. repeat.

Cover and cook on low heat setting 4 to 6 hours or until noodles are tender

sprinkle top of lasagna with remaining 1 cup of cheese cover and let stand about 10 min. or until cheese melted. cut into pieces.

Top with sprinkled parm/Romano cheese

Dear DD,

"Holy Fuck... I'm Pregnant." Yep that was me. That was my not so graceful reaction to you. Not what you were looking for huh? Well it's the truth. The Moment that strip turned pink all I could do was stare at it in disbelief. Yes you were not planned, you were something that happened, does that make me a bad mother? I don't think so. Twenty Months later I can't remember why i was not trying to have such a beautiful little baby.

Once word got out that i was pregnant all I heard from everyone was, "Are you ready for this?" It's a little late for oh my god i'm not ready. Like everything else in my life it was an idea that simply took getting used to, after that it was happy go lucky all the way.

We were not rich when we brought you into our lives, but we kept clothes on you body, food in your belly, and diapers on your butt. I loved you from the moment i felt you kick. I loved you before that i just did not now it yet.

Here i sit just days before your first birthday and i can't stop telling you how much I love you, how much you've grown, and that you are the very best part of this family. The initial reaction seems so long ago, like a distant memory. Now all i can say is where did my sweet little baby girl go? Who replaced her with this independent beautiful toddler?

You may not have been planned but I cannot imagine my life with out you. The best part of my day is when you smile.

Love,
Your Mommy

Chicken Marsala

I originally Found this recipe on Betty Crocker's Website However i did not think it was very good so i am going to do what i do best and tinker with it. Any Suggestions for the next time around?

4 boneless skinless Chicken Breasts
1/2 c. All Purpose Flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tbsp. Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic finely chopped
1 c. sliced mushrooms
1 tbsp parsley flakes
1/2 c. dry marsala wine or chicken broth
Hot Cooked Pasta

• Flatten each chicken breast into 1/4 in. In shallow baking dish mix flour, salt, and pepper. Coat chicken in mixture. Shake off excess.
• In 10 inch skillet heat oil to med heat, cook garlic, mushrooms, and parsley in oil for five min. stirring frequently.
• Add Chicken to skillet cook about 8 min turning once until brown. Add wine and cook 8 to 10 min or until no longer pink
• serve over hot pasta

Menu Plan Monday -- April 13

last week was a giant fail, i unexpected went out of town for the entire week, and it resulted in my cooking easter dinner, sorry no time for photos but it was indeed good. So lets try this again shall we...

Monday -- Potato Soup with Bread Sticks
Tuesday-- 3 Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta
Wednesday-- Left Overs
Thursday -- Smothered Round Steak with Egg Noodles
Friday -- Slow Cooker Chicken Parm
Saturday -- Left Overs
Sunday -- Munchkin's Birthday!

I better go get that soup started!

My Name Is Alice And I have a Problem...

I don’t think that there is a weekly meeting for the problem that I have. I am a book addict, and this is my enabler, they make so many books so affordable and I never have to leave home to find one. I need help I admit that. If I so much as hear about a book that I may want to read I automatically hit up half.com and see if they have it.

Taking Charge of your Fertility? Check.

Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety? Check.

The Sneaky Chef: How to Cheat on Your Man? Check.

And now after reading about a book on another blog: Bird to Bird Some Instructions on Life, I have indeed ordered it, about ten minuets ago as a matter of fact.

Any advice? Anyone?

Menu Plan Monday

When I started working on April's Menu Plans, Which took about a day, if you count all the breaks and running after the munchkin. I wanted to utilize my shiny new crock pot as much as possible. So this may be a slow cooked month. Plus I am starting to plan whole months out instead of weeks, to take advantage of sales on meats, and various other items. It's actually quite addicting to plan everything out in advance, and it seems to make things a little easier in my kitchen.

Week of April 6th - April 12th
Monday --Cheesey Chicken (crock pot)
Tuesday -- Smothered steak w/Mashed Potatoes (crock pot)
Wednesday -- Leftovers
Thursday -- Scalloped Potatoes w/ Turkey (Crock pot)
Friday -- Chicken Marsala (Family Fun Night)
Saturday -- Leftovers
Sunday -- Easter Dinner (No Cooking For Me)

This is just the plan for the first week, recipies and hopefully photos will follow.